Thoughts on Dexcool v.s. Green
Originally Posted by RussStang
But that is exactly the point. These are only YOUR experiences. My experiences have been quite the contrary with Dexcool. So why should I bought to change to the green **** just because a bunch of people over the internet are claiming how bad dexcool is, when I have had absolutely no problems with it? Hell, I did run the **** for 5 years, and the engine was fine. No weird smells, no weird gunk. Winter gets to be in the teens around here, and summer is in the 90s. No problems with the stuff. And I am not gentle to my car.
/thread
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Originally Posted by ONEBADASSWS6
Leaving any coolant in the engine for 5 years/150K is pointless and dumb. Thats a given.....
.....There is no decisive answer here, saying "green is good and dex is Bad" is a baseless statement and doesn't prove anything.
.....There is no decisive answer here, saying "green is good and dex is Bad" is a baseless statement and doesn't prove anything.
I agree.
I have seen no facts that green is better than dex assuming both are changed in a resonable time frame. IMO, 5/150 is not very reasonable.
I think we can all agree that the biggest issue with dexcool is the recommeded change interval.
whats funny is that chocotaco cant even replace his water pump himself, he has to have a mechanic do it for him
i on the other hand have done several intake swaps, changed my water pump (it went out after 130k), dropped the k member out of my car, and completely rebuilt my motor. belive who you want.
people like him take second hand information that they hear at the shop as they are having their cars worked on and pass it off as if they have some clue about what they are talking about. after personaly seeing the inside of my 120k and 160k motors and how absolutly spotless they are, i have no problems with using the dexcool that this motor was designed to use.
i on the other hand have done several intake swaps, changed my water pump (it went out after 130k), dropped the k member out of my car, and completely rebuilt my motor. belive who you want.
people like him take second hand information that they hear at the shop as they are having their cars worked on and pass it off as if they have some clue about what they are talking about. after personaly seeing the inside of my 120k and 160k motors and how absolutly spotless they are, i have no problems with using the dexcool that this motor was designed to use.
Well...I'll let you know if my electric water pump blows up on its maiden voyage in about five minutes 
If it does though, I'll only have myself to blame since I installed it along with the evil Dexcool
If it does though, I'll only have myself to blame since I installed it along with the evil Dexcool
Banned
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Originally Posted by MeentSS02
Well...I'll let you know if my electric water pump blows up on its maiden voyage in about five minutes
If it does though, I'll only have myself to blame since I installed it along with the evil Dexcool
If it does though, I'll only have myself to blame since I installed it along with the evil Dexcool
BAD NEWS:
Just got back from taking the car out for a spin, and the motor is still in one piece...water pump too
The only reason I put Dexcool in was to blow up my engine so I could get another one... 
Just got back from taking the car out for a spin, and the motor is still in one piece...water pump too
The only reason I put Dexcool in was to blow up my engine so I could get another one... LS1 Tech Stories
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Dexcool is great for LS1's if you change it often. But with an iron block (LT1) and neglect it males big trouble. I bought my 96 T/A with 96,000 and no one had changed the coolant (or at least for the last 50,000 miles). Because these cars aren't new anymore and god knows what kind of person owned the car before you I say swap it over. I hate Dex becuase of the experience I had with it, but I'm sure if you have had your car since new or close to it you may like it. When I buy my next car I'm going to sawp to the good old green as soon as possible because I'm sure the car will have at least 70,000 on the clock.
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Originally Posted by QuickT/A
Dexcool is great for LS1's if you change it often. But with an iron block (LT1) and neglect it males big trouble. I bought my 96 T/A with 96,000 and no one had changed the coolant (or at least for the last 50,000 miles). Because these cars aren't new anymore and god knows what kind of person owned the car before you I say swap it over. I hate Dex becuase of the experience I had with it, but I'm sure if you have had your car since new or close to it you may like it. When I buy my next car I'm going to sawp to the good old green as soon as possible because I'm sure the car will have at least 70,000 on the clock.
If the coolant has been left in for 70-90k miles, then whatever damage might have been done, has already been done. Swapping over to green stuff isn't like some kind of magic potion that will reverse the effects of years of poor maintanence and fully restore your cooling system.
Flush out the old dex, and put in new. Or, if you prefer, flush the system and refill with green. But don't expect the green to save you from damage that has already been done. If the system was damaged in any way by old coolant, it's not going to make a damn bit of difference whether you refill with dex or green, the damage will need to be repaired either way. And if you were lucky enough to not have any damage from the poor maintanence, then refilling with fresh Dexcool and changing it regularly isn't going to create any new issues.
Last edited by RPM WS6; Mar 20, 2007 at 06:15 PM.
Originally Posted by RPM WS6
Why would you swap it over to green just because the previous owner may have left Dexcool in for too long? That doesn't make any sense. Why not just flush the system, then refill with Dex, then change it regularly?
If the coolant has been left in for 70-90k miles, then whatever damage might have been done, has already been done. Swapping over to green stuff isn't like some kind of magic potion that will reverse the effects of years of poor maintanence and fully restore your cooling system.
Flush out the old dex, and put in new. Or, if you prefer, flush the system and refill with green. But don't expect the green to save you from damage that has already been done. If the system was damaged in any way by old coolant, it's not going to make a damn bit of difference whether you refill with dex or green, the damage will need to be repaired either way.
If the coolant has been left in for 70-90k miles, then whatever damage might have been done, has already been done. Swapping over to green stuff isn't like some kind of magic potion that will reverse the effects of years of poor maintanence and fully restore your cooling system.
Flush out the old dex, and put in new. Or, if you prefer, flush the system and refill with green. But don't expect the green to save you from damage that has already been done. If the system was damaged in any way by old coolant, it's not going to make a damn bit of difference whether you refill with dex or green, the damage will need to be repaired either way.
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Originally Posted by MeentSS02
BAD NEWS:
Just got back from taking the car out for a spin, and the motor is still in one piece...water pump too The only reason I put Dexcool in was to blow up my engine so I could get another one...
Just got back from taking the car out for a spin, and the motor is still in one piece...water pump too
The only reason I put Dexcool in was to blow up my engine so I could get another one... Didn't you know that dexcool is Satan's Lemonade?
Originally Posted by RPM WS6
Damn, it took you so long to reply that I was certain your motor had been sucked into the 7th layer of hell and was burning as I type.
Didn't you know that dexcool is Satan's Lemonade?
Didn't you know that dexcool is Satan's Lemonade?
She declined my offer to take a sip 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,661
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Originally Posted by MeentSS02
I didn't know that...my girlfriend said it looked like Kool-Aid. I told her it tasted like it too She declined my offer to take a sip
She declined my offer to take a sip 
Maybe I should have said, Satan's *pink* Lemonade.
Originally Posted by carzman5678
It might not be so bad on a LS1 with the gaskets, but a lot of the GM vehicles with a 3.4L V-6 family or 4.3L V-6 has a serious problem with dexcool eating away at the intake gasket material. You dont think it pisses GM off if they have to pay for a $1000 job under the 36K mile warrenty. Ford used it for one year and had multiple problems. They switched back immediately. But this is my hands on experience talking here. So dont take my word for it.
I had no problems with Dex in my 99 camaro or Z06 but I got rid of it very early BECAUSE I have PERSONALLY seen what it does to gasket materials on at least 100 other vehicles. The people who have the most experience with Dexcool and its issues advocate getting rid of it. Simple fact even in this thread......Don't believe me just go to a service bay at your local GM dealer and ask a few mechanics.
Last post here. I promise....
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From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Originally Posted by cantdrv65
EXACTLY my point! 
Have to go based on personal experiance and not just the word of others. For me, I've owned at least a half dozen various types of cars with dexcool, and another half dozen cars with green stuff. Here is what I have learned:
Leave dexcool in too long, you'll have problems.
Leave green stuff in too long, you'll have problems.
Change dex or green regularly, you'll have no problems.
In the end, pick either, change often, live happily ever after. That's what I've learned based on my own personal experiance without the influence of anyone else's opinion, so that's my personal final conclusion.
I'm a bit embarrassed to chime in on this topic, but I'd rather get ripped by people who will spout off at the mouth then have another F-body owner have to go through this.
This is my coolant on 60k on my 98Z. I purchased this vehicle with 42k and thus far have had no performance or water pump issues. I'm a newb, but fortunately, I'm learning through this site to start taking care of my ride. However, this is what I found, and I assume the previous owner did little maintanance.
The pic above was AFTER someone had smudged most of it off with their finger. It does in fact smell horrible and was gunkier than crap. So here is someones "proof" if they feel they need it. Chaco has a right to be worried, and I do think those of you that raised an eyebrow with the post should as well.
I do realize the right change interval would help. I will not argue my opinion if it will work if I had changed mine earlier or not. Surely there is sense in that. But how soon? 2yrs would probably be cool, but again, I don't know for sure. I simply will state the facts and let you guys decipher what you feel is best FOR YOU. Please just don't let it get to this point....or worse.
What you just showed could have easily been prevented by just checking that overflow tank...mine got that way too once upon a time because I never checked it. Never had that happen since I started keeping the level where it needs to be.
